No compromise on army’s dignity: COAS

Gen Qamar reportedly asked about Rana Sanaullah’s criticism of military courts, status of Dawn leaks probe

ISLAMABAD: Calling the Pakistan Army a great institution, General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday vowed to uphold its ‘dignity and credibility’ through ‘selfless performance of our role and duties.’

General Qamar made these remarks during a visit to Jhelum and the Kharian Garrison, where he was given a detailed briefing on operational preparedness at the Headquarters Central Command, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The military’s media wing would not provide the context of Gen Qamar’s remarks but sources said he was responding to questions raised by army officers during the interactive session.

According to the sources, some of the officers drew Gen Qamar’s attention towards the recent statement by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah questioning the effectiveness of military courts to curb terrorism. The army chief reportedly was also asked about the status of investigation into the controversial ‘fabricated’ news story published by Dawn in October last year.

Responding to those questions, sources said Gen Qamar made it clear that the army would not compromise on its dignity and credibility.

Since Gen Qamar took over command of the army, there was a hope that the civil-military relationship would improve.  But the government’s handling of some of the issues, including rumours about the appointment of former army chief Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif, may not auger well for a smooth working relationship with the military. These developments could be the possible reason behind Gen Qamar’s statement vowing not to compromise on the ‘dignity and credibility’ of the army.

Speaking to Kharian Garrison officers, the army chief appreciated them for their contributions in counter-terrorism operations as part of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He paid rich tributes to the “shuhada (martyrs) and injured who have rendered sacrifices for our beloved country.”

Gen Qamar also visited the Para Ranges at Jhelum and witnessed concluding session of the Army Firing Competition. A total of 667 military and civilian shooters from across the country participated in the four-week long event. A special feature of the event was the participation of 86 war-wounded officers and soldiers in the competition, said the military’s media wing.

Appreciating their performance, the army chief said that with more focused preparation, our teams should excel to represent Pakistan in international events.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2017.